Enabling Bi-directional Haptic Control in Next Generation Communication Systems: Research, Standards, and Vision

Human multi-modality information such as audio (hearing) and visual (sight) or a combination thereof audiovisual are transferred over communication networks. Yet interacting sense of touch (haptic) and particularly the kinaesthetic (muscular movement) component has much stricter end-to-end latency communication requirements between tactile user ends. The statements in this paper, to enable bi-directional haptic control, indeed follow the widely accepted understanding that edge computing is one of the key drivers behind Tactile Internet aiming to bring control and user plane services closer to where they are needed. However, with an updated wider analysis of (pre)standardisation activities that are chartered around Tactile Internet, this paper highlights the technology gaps and recommends open research topics in this area.